Chapter 47

“Ahsa… that doesn’t make sense. The first place I checked was the gateway detention center, and those people weren’t there.”

“…….”

Someone who had previously scoffed at me for looking at this city with such beautiful vision came to mind.

‘The illegal immigrants were not expelled outside.’

Returning home and finally relaying what I had discovered after escaping the workplace where eyes and ears were everywhere was met with this reaction.

For Team Leader Helena, the term ‘detainment’ logically equated to ‘detention’, so it might be a reasonable denial. However… the person giving such an answer looked anxious, feeling an uncomfortable and chaotic sensation that was hard to explain.

The sense of justice I had wanted to emulate in Helena Valentine since I escaped the lab.

Even my clumsy eyes clearly engraved a hint of suspicion blooming in that fairness.

But, before I even mentioned the most suspicious project or my worries about Anne, she already looked so uneasy that it was troubling for me… Ah.

“……No matter why the trailer left separately, the fact remains that no one died in the accident… it’s okay, sis.”

“That’s… true, but.”

I understand the anxiety that comes from believing one’s actions to be right only to lead to bad outcomes.

Here is someone more filled with worry about the future than anyone else in this world; how could she not know that?

Seeing her hesitate, wondering if merely saying something comforting suffices… I realized that I had been overly elevating her to the status of a hero.

Just as Helena’s character at the prologue and her character at the ending are different, the current version of her is still inexperienced and not entirely composed.

Even if she discovers something wrong, she doesn’t know where or how to correct it; she’s an incomplete hero.

An unsatisfactory situation is likely to make her heart uneasy, but it’s unavoidable.

“Then don’t worry too much. It’s not like you can access every area, so they must be somewhere.”

“……Yeah, right.”

She blatantly changed the subject.

Of course, I had no intention of letting things end here unsatisfactorily.

It is indeed the duty of someone older to take care of their younger sibling, and I couldn’t irresponsibly sweep this away… from here on, it’s a path I must walk alone.

… I could even say it’s a sense of responsibility as the first reporter.

Creak…!

“……? Where are you going? Let me take you!”

“Just a short walk. You don’t need to worry about it.”

As I started to put on the shoes I had left near the sofa, Helena, who had been frowning while shining a light on the katana’s blade, reacted.

I dismissed her insistence to provide transport without knowing my destination and left the house.

…Was that a lie?

I needed to find a device to modulate my access signal while walking to relieve my frustrated heart, and I had to make a call that was awkward to share with her.

Before carelessly attempting to connect, I casually looked up the self-proclaimed information broker’s number I had gotten from the train station in a back channel of the mercenary community.

Where should I go…?

[They handle things accurately…! That’s good! Just don’t know if they are just a face or the owner, but the guy seems like a total pervert;; feels like being observed absolutely….]

[It’s not just using a hacker, but it’s good they employ people directly… But simply making an appointment and charging base fees under some guise is pretty messed up, isn’t it? Damn it.]

[Other than that, they are a business that has no history of exposing clients or requesters, so the inexperienced kids should just follow the directives they give.]

“……The reviews are all positive?”

Leaving aside personal complaints, it seemed like they were rated as a pretty decent broker, contrasting the shabby outdoor advertisements.

This was an unexpectedly good find; with this rating, it might be worth trying them out.

Beep beep—!!

A loud signal rang in my head.

It wasn’t that long ago… In fact, I had just spoken with Mei the other day, who had caused quite a stir asking when I would come to Neo Haven.

The surplus energy of a child growing up with no school to attend during the day and no friends to hang out with was… truly overwhelming. I might need to plan a trip out of sheer pity….

– Thank you for contacting us, dear customer…. If you let us know what service you wish from our agency, which boasts a long-standing history, we will assist you with all our sincerity…. –

“Uhm… I’m looking to request some background checks.”

I momentarily lost my words from the laid-back tone so far from being serious.

One could say I was initially thrown off, but… I felt a sense of déjà vu from a line I had definitely heard somewhere.

– Unfortunately, our agency does not accept requests without face-to-face meetings…. –

“…….”

The understandable doubt of whether their promotional approach was flawed surged up, but as I focused a bit more, I felt I would remember who this tone belonged to, and just then… they revealed the answer on their own.

– Please come to the hotel in the upper city, Hora Dorada, and inform the reception staff that you “made a reservation over the phone in advance.” –

I hung up before the words finished and began searching for the nearest transit or train station.

This pervert seems to be using this as an excuse to observe humans rather than actually working.

I still passed by the glaring golden columns and the guards.

Despite my brief stay, it struck me as familiar, likely due to many memorable encounters here.

… Except for someone who smiled broadly the moment they saw me.

“Beautiful customer…! You’re here again…? As it happens, the room you booked previously is available… how about an overnight stay…?”

“…No, this time I’m calling in advance… Ah…! You’ve come back once again for a special service? Thank you…!” … Yeah.

What a cheeky attitude, hiding our mutual understanding and pretending not to know.

Their proactive spirit in service is indeed commendable, but… I didn’t need to judge from the perspective of a guest, since I had come all this way.

I wasn’t in a position to be bothered by trivialities when employing someone competent.

“Please, accompany me to the inner office…?”

Politely, yet with an elegant flair, they gestured and led me through a staff-only passage.

“…Is it alright to leave the reception empty like that?”

“The other staff are sufficient. However, this service… is something only I can provide, so I hope you understand.”

Clunk…!

Following their kind guidance, we arrived at a secluded room furnished like a lounge.

Originally, I had planned to throw out some investigative matters quickly, pay the fee, and leave, but… it seemed this human wanted to chat for a long while.

“So… what kind of investigation are you seeking, my lady…?”

To avoid the overwhelming face leaning too close, I firmly pressed my back against the chair.

Even now, confronting them this closely, I couldn’t discern the gender of the androgynous witch.

“…Usually, the narrower the scope of such requests, the more costs are reduced, right…?”

“Essentially, the associated risk increases with that process…. Yes, that’s correct. So please go ahead and tell me. I’m quite curious about what an exceptional talent who outshone all the formidable net hackers would want to entrust to someone else.”

“Ugh?!”

Heat flooded my face. …Damn it! That bizarre interview should never have happened.

Moreover, given how shocking the incident was, it seemed even those who deal with information had caught wind of it, judging by the rumors going around… I had no idea where the police’s identity protection had gone.

“…Recently, local residents who aimed for urban living came here and have not returned. Or perhaps just check the missing person reports.”

“……Not city dwellers, but local residents? From the wasteland…?”

I recognize that it sounds strange. But saying that doesn’t change the necessary information, which is the real issue.

“Exactly. And….”

I moistened my dry lips with my tongue and moved my stiff muscles around. Now that I was this far, I just had to voice it… asking them to investigate Anne Grisha’s whereabouts.

But would it be appropriate to instigate such matters based on mere gloomy assumptions without ever having met her?

It’s not important that Anne or Helena might accidentally stumble upon this; what’s haunting me is that I have to carry this decision while living on.

“……That’s all. Just let me know how much I owe.”

I hurried to conclude the request.

Now, I just need to calmly wait for the right moment.

The dangerous-smelling project of Paradise, for which I’ve been brought close to its origin, is something I must tackle.

…And that opportunity came much sooner and just as abruptly, to the point where I felt no satisfaction about utilizing the information broker.